Type-writing machine.



B. O. STIGKNEY. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 6. 1903.

WITNESSES: TDFl. I M r Z? M" H15" ATTEJHNEY PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

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B. G. STIGKNEY. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1903.

PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\A/ITNEESEE. v INVENTEIFQ: 75% MW; W @MWMMV 77a I /W% FIE ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906 B. o. STIGKNEYQ TYPE WRITING MAGHINB. 'APPLIOATIQN FILED APR.6, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 145 ATTORNEY.

of Eli'zabeth, in the,

" which thetype-bars strike rearwardly-against of the preferred form of'key-lever.

with the parts shown in printing osition.

I parts.

is mounted upon the rear endof a bent platen. The type-carriers," the levers 9, and

' specification.

'struction and operation of the key-actions.

end of a lever 9, and also pivote at its front BURNHAIVLC. STIGKNEY, OF ELIZABETH,

UNION TYPEl/V'RITER COMPANY,

CORPORATION OF JERSEY.

new JERSEY. ASSIGNOR TO or. JERSEY orrr,- NEW. JERSEY, a

TYPE-WRITING ACHINE.

' Specification of letters Patent.

- Patented :Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed Aprilfi, 3; Seria1No.151,336.

To all whom it may concern:

. e it known that I, BURNHAM -C.-STICKNEY,

a 'citizen'of the United States, and a resident county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writ+ ing 'Machines, of which the following is a This invention relates to the key-actions of writing-machines, and especially to those in a platen; and its object is to improve the touchof the keys and toy simplify the 0011-,

Myinvention consists in. certain combinations of devices and features of construction,, which, will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the concluding. claims. p v

In the drawings forming part of this's ecification, Figure .1 is a central longitu inal vertical section of afull keyboard front-strike pad-machine constructed in accordance with my'present improvements, the parts being" shown in normal position. Fig. 2 is a view Fig. 3isa view of the type-action seen at Fig. 1, but

Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation o the machine, showing the type-actions. 1

In the several views like signs denotelike The framework of the machine may include a rectangular base 1, corner-post 2 thereon, and a top plate 3, over which may runa carp'laten 4-. Against the front ing upon a segmental inking-pad 6, sn

I ported at its ends upon the top plate. Sai

type carrier 7, pivoted at its end at 8 u t on the free end at 10 upon an idle link 1] in sucha man-l ner that when operated the type follows the. dotted path 12 at Fig. 3 from the pad to the the links 11 are all'radially disposed, the levers 9 being mounted upon a curved fulcrumrod 13, fixed upon. a segment 14, which is ra-' dially slotted at 15 to receive the lever-hubs, and theilinks '11, working upon acurvedrod 16, supported upon a segment 17, which is radially slotted at 18 to receive the links,

said segments beingsu ported at their ends upon the top plate. improvements may a so be app ied to other forms of type-bars, including those which work upon single pivots and printthrough a ribbon. The key-levers are T-shaped and compriseforwardlyextending portions or arms 19, hearing at their forward ends keys 20, upwardly-extending arms 21 at the rear ends of the arms 19 and 'downwardlyextending arms 22, forming continuations of the arms 2]. Pulllinks 23 are pivoted at their rear ends at 24 to 'thetype-levers 9 and extend for'wardl y to the key-lever arms 2], to which they are ivoted at 25.. The downwardly-exten 111 key-lever arms 22 have elongated curved treads or rockers 26, which are adapted to have a rocker mot-ion upon a plate or other suitable elongated fulcrum or hearing 27, Which is arranged verticallyor on edge and extends transversely'in rear of the .arms 22 and is supported u on the opposite walls of the base 1-. The, ey-levers at their crossarm portions are provided with'notches 28, which-- engage a transverse horizontal bar 29, fixed at Its endsto the side walls of'the base, whereby' vertical displacement of the rear ends. of the levers is prevented. A comb 30 for guiding the lower ends of the arms 22' may be suitably mounted in the base, the forwardly extending portions of the levers be- The rod 'ing guided b the usual comb 31.

29 prevents t e rear end of each of. the lovers from'moving' downwardly, so that when a key is depressed the entire lever tendsto swing or-rock'upon the vertical plate 27, whereby the arm .21 isVibrated forwardly, and through the link 23 the type-bar is ulled up to print, as. illustrated at Fig. 3.

pon the release ofqthe key from pressure the parts return to normal position partly by gravity and partly by the aid ofa drawspring, 32, the forward end whereof is attached to the link 23 and the rear end whereof is caught upon a hook 33, provided upon the curved frame of the pad 6. It will be noted that the :point 25 has a forward-and back ward movement.- By reason of the rocker action ofthe arm 22 upon therpla te 27 the leverage'or purchase of the' key upon the ty e bar, which leverage is so trail part 'of the stroke as to avoid jar to the great at the ini-' finger of the operator, gradually decreases until the stroke is completed, the'etl'ect being not only to soften the key touch, but also to increase the s need of the type as it nears the which are usually heavier than simple type-- bars and are proportionately harder to set in motion and more resisting to the key-touch."

At Fig. 3 it will be seen that the key-lever is equivalentto a simple bell-crank or elbowlever; the power being applied to the key, the fulcrum being at the point of contact of the lower end ofthe rocker 22 with the fulcrumplate 27 and the load-point being at'25, these three points being at the apexs of a triangle. It will be noted that when the parts are in the Fig. 3 position or at the completion of the stroke the leverage of the key upon the typebar is the least. I

At Fig. 4 it will be noted that the key-lever arms 21 are shortest in the middle of the system, but are progressively longer from the middle to the sides of the system to conform to the gradually-increasing hei hts at which the type-bars are mounted willalso be noted that the downwardly-extending arms 22 of the key-levers are longest at the middle of the system and growprogressively shorter toward the sides of the system, thereby to compensate for the increased length of the upwardly-extending arms and to render the di 3 of the keys more nearly uniform.

, n the preferred form of the invention (shown at Fig.2) the cross-arms of the keylevers are supported at the point of least vibration of the levers or between the ends of the arms 22, at which point there are formed in the levers'suitable notches 34, which engage a horizontal. bar 35, fixed upon the plate 27. r v

Variations may be made within the scope of my invention and portions of my improvements may be used without others.

Certain of the featuresherein shown and described are claimed, broadly, in my appli cations Serial Nos. 151,334 and 151,336, filed of even date herewith.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is, 1. 'In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination ofa series of rearwardly-striking type bars; a series of key-bearing bellcranks connected thereto; said bell-cranks comprising forwardly-extending key-bearing arms and downwardly-extending arms having elongated treads, and the points of said levers which are connected to said type-bars having a forward and backward movement;

a fulcrum-plate upon which said treads have a rocker motion; said fulcrum-plate standing on edge; and a bar engaged by all of said treads for supporting the same against downward or upward displacement.

2. In afront-strikewriting-machine, the combination of a series of rearwardly=strik' ing type-bars; a series of'levers connected to said type-bars and comprising forwardly-extending key-bearing arms and downwardlyextending arms having elongated curved treads, notches in the latter arms, a fixed transverse supporting bar engaged by said notches, and an upright plate upon which said treads have a rocker motion.

'3. In a front-strike writing-machine, the

combination of a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars; 'a series of T-shaped levers comprising forwardly-extending key-bearing arms, upwardly-extending arms, and downwardly-extending arms having elongated treads; linksjextending forwardly between said type-bars and said upwardly-extending arms; notches in said levers a fixed transverse bar. enga ed by said notches for preventing upwar or downward displacement of said levers at their rear ends; and andtending arms have a rocker motion.

4. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination of a series of rearwardly-strik- 'crum-plate upon which said'downwardly-exing type-bars; a series of T-shaped levers comprising forwardly-extending key-bearing arms, upwardly-extending arms, and downwardly-extending arms having. elongated treads; links extending forwardly between said type-bars andsaid upwardly-extending arms; notches in said downwardly-extending arms; a fulcrum-plate upon which the'latter arms have a rocker motion; and a fixed transverse bar mounted upon said'plate between the upper and lower edges thereof and engaged-by said notches for preventin upward or downward displacement of said evers at their rear ends. 7 l

5. In a front-strike Writing-machine, the combination of a series of rearwardly-striking type-bars; a series of T-shaped levers comprising forwardly-extending key-bearing arms, upwardly-extending arms, and down- .vardly-extending arms having elongated treads; links extending forwardly between said type-bars and said upwardly-extending arms notches in said levers; a fixed transversebar engaged by said notches for preventing upward-or downward displacement of said levers at their rear ends; a fulcrum- .plate upon which said (lownwardlyextending arms have a rocker motion; and returning-springs attached to said links and extend ing to a fixed support.

6. In a front-strike writing-Imachine, the

combination of a system .of rearwardly-strikdownwardly extending arms having elongated treads, and upwardly-extending arms connected to thetype-bars; and a'bearing- 3 plate upon which said treads have a rocker 5 motion saidupwardly-extending arms being shortestat the middle of the system. andnbe ing" progressively longer from the middle to the sides of. the system, and said downwardly.-

extending arms beinglongest at the middle of the system and being progressively shorter from the middle. to the sides ofthe s' stem.

, c 7. In a front strike writing-mac ine', the

' combination of asystem of rearwardly-striking type'-bars',a system of levers comprisr5 ing forwardly-extending'key-bearing arms,

downwardlyextending arms having elon' gated treads, andup'wardly extending arms, a 'bearingplate upon which said treadshave a rockermotion said upwardly-extending arms zo bein shortest atthe middle of the system and eing progressively longer from the middie to the sides of the system, andsai'd downwardly-extending arms being longest at the middle of the s stern and beingpro 'ressively zg shorter from t e middle to the Si es of the system; links extending forwardly between said type-bars and said upwardly-extending .arm s,' returning-s rings attached to said. llnksyand. means or preventm upward or 0 downward displacement ofsaid ownwardly- "extending'arms. r I

. 8. In afront-strike' writin machine, the

' combination of a series of radial links, ,a series of rearwardly-striking type-carriers piv- 3 5 oted-upon the free ends of said links; a sec- 0nd series of radial links upon which said type-carriers are also pivoted; a series of T-,

levers comprising forwardly-extending keybearing arms, upwardly-extending.-arms, and

40 downwardly-extending arms, connect-ions extending forwardly between one of said sets of radial links and said upwardly extending arms; elongated treads formed-on said downwardly-extending arms; a plate upon which said treads have a rocker motion; and a transverse bar for supporting the rear ends'zof said levers.

' In a front-strike writing-machine, the

combination of a series of reamvardly-strik- 5o ing type-bars; a series 'of T-shaped levers comprising forwardly-extending key-bearing farms, upwardly-extending arms, and down-" wardly-extending arms having elongated treads; links extendin forwardly between said typebars and sai "upwardly-extending arms; notches in said downwardly-extending arms; a fulcrum-plate upon which the latter arms have a rockerm'otion and a fixed transverse bar mounted upon said plate between the upper and lower edges thereof and engaged by said notches for preventing upward or downward displacement .of said levers at their rear ends; said forwardly-e'xtcnding arms being attached to said cfoss-arms at points' abovesaid notches.

10. In a front-strikewriting nachine, the

combination of a series of rearwardly-striking type' bars, a series of key-bearing levers, a

series of links connecting said type-bars to "said levers; said levers havinga series of up wardly-extending armsto whose upper ends said links are attached, said arms being shortest at the middle of the systenn aud increasing progressively in length from the middle to the sides of the system, and means for affording a change of fulcrum of said levers as they are depressed. 1

11, The combinatioii with a'series of type bars ofia series of T-shaped keydevers', a link. connecting each type-bar to one arm of one of said levers, a key carried by another arm of said levers,.said levers also having at their rear ends downwardly extending arms provided. with suitable bearings ;-sa1d dowmvar'dl yex tending arms being longest at the middle of the system and'decreasing progressively in length from the middle to the sides of the sys- -tem,-and a cooperating bearing for the downwardly-extending arms of said levers;

112. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a front-strike jointed typebar, and a key-lever operatively connected to said type-bar, said key-lever having a down Wardly-extendingarm and a bearing on which said arm rocks and changes its fulcrum.

13. In a-typeewriting machine, the combination of a series of segmentally-arrangerl t pe-bars, key-levers operativelyconnected tliereto and havingrocker arms that afford a change of leverage as the key-levers are depressed, the rocker-arms at the centerof the system having a greater extent of rocking movement on their bearings than those at the sides of the system. 1

14. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a seriesof segnientally-arranged type-bars, key-levers having connectingarms of different lengths operatively connect.-

ed to the type-bars and having rocker-arms that afford a change of leverage as the key. levers are depressed, the rocker-armslforthe. key-levers with the shorter connecting-arms 

